title: Factors associated with survey response in hand surgery research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A low response rate is believed to decrease the validity of survey studies. Factors associated with nonresponse to surveys are poorly characterized in orthopaedic research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study addressed whether (1) psychologic factors; (2) demographics; (3) illness-related factors; and (4) pain are predictors of a lower likelihood of a patient returning a mailed survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred four adult, new or return patients completed questionnaires including the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression scale, Short Health Anxiety Index, demographics, and a pain scale (0-10) during a routine visit to a hand and upper extremity surgeon. Of these patients, 38% had undergone surgery and the remainder was seen for various other conditions. Six months after their visit, patients were mailed the DASH questionnaire and a scale to rate their satisfaction with the visit (0-10). Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to determine risk factors for being a nonresponder to the followup of this study. The cohort consisted of 57 women and 47 men with a mean age of 51 years with various diagnoses. Thirty-five patients (34%) returned the questionnaire. Responders were satisfied with their visit (mean satisfaction, 8.7) and had a DASH score of 9.6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with patients who returned the questionnaires, nonresponders had higher pain catastrophizing scores, were younger, more frequently male, and had more pain at enrollment. In logistic regression, male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.6), pain (OR, 1.3), and younger age (OR, 1.03) were associated with not returning the questionnaire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survey studies should be interpreted in light of the fact that patients who do not return questionnaires in a hand surgery practice differ from patients who do return them. Hand surgery studies that rely on questionnaire evaluation remote from study enrollment should include tactics to improve the response of younger, male patients with more pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey Center, Suite 2100, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Arjan G J
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bot
authors.forename: Jade A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011177:Postal Service; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires